Asia Community Service was established in October 1996, as a non-profit organisation by its founder members Professor Ken Nakazawa, Ms Khor Ai-Na, Ms Kong Lan Lee and the late Assoc Prof Dr Angeline S B. Cheah. The main vision is to empower people with special needs towards a more meaningful and fulfilling life in he society. The focus, however, is targeted towards young children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The organization is currently run by an CEO and governed by a five member Board of Directors, namely

Dato Gillian Y.K. Teh

Chairman

Professor Ken Nakazawa

Director

Ms. Kong Lan Lee

Director

Ms. Zurina Hayati Meah

Director

Dr. Tan Liok Ee

Director

Ms. Khor Ai-Na

C.E.O.

The main objective of the organisation then was to translate words into action. Hence the beginning of the service deliveries.

CHRONOLOGY OF SERVICES

1997 April

started First Step Early Intervention Centre in a rented premise in Medan Tembaga, Island Park

1999 October

First Step Centre moved to another rented premise in Minden Heights

2000 February

started Stepping Stone Work Centre in a rented premise in Taman Sri Genting, Balik Pulau

In the past few years, ACS has successfully carried out several joint projects with Bold Association for Children with Special Needs Penang. Due to the similarity of goals, objectives and common grounds in shared values and approaches on special needs and disabilities issues, both organisations see many more possibilities of pooling resources to synergize towards providing better services for the special needs population.

In 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in August to formalize this partnership.

ACS is also a founding member of the National Early Childhood Intervention Council and plays an active role with its CEO in the position of the Vice President of the NECIC.